The Theory Of Everything

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

Director : James Marsh

Year : 2015

Genre : Biographical Drama

Rating : *****

 

Handled with grace, care, respect, truth and absolute sincerity, 'The Theory Of Everything' is a beautifully told and wonderfully compelling biopic about one of the greatest minds ever to  grace our planet. Directed by James Marsh, director of the terrific Academy Award winning documentary 'Man On Wire', 'The Theory Of Everything' tells the astonishing true story about Professor Stephen Hawking, the ingenious Cambridge astrophysicist and author who, despite being struck down with the cruelest of diseases, never allowed his condition to impede on his work or his life. With the Golden Globes behind us, the awards season is in full bloom now and Richard Linklaters extraordinary 3 hour epic 'Boyhood' is the frontrunner for Oscar glory. Up until the moment I finished 'The Theory Of Everything', I was certainly on the ever-growing bandwagon to see 'Boyhood' take home the gold at every major awards ceremony. Now my allegiances have somewhat shifted.

As a teenager, Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) was an admired and well respected student on the campus of Cambridge University. Having met Jane (Felicity Jones) the love of his life and having written a ground-breaking theory about the creation of time itself, things couldn't better for the young genius. However, things take a truly tragic turn when after falling over one day, he is diagnosed with motor neuron disease, an horrific neurological condition which slowly destroys the involuntary processes in the body; leading to complete muscle paralysis and eventual death. Hawking is given two years to live. 

Despite his life-changing illness, the always positive Hawking fails to allow his disease to dominate his life and with his now-wife and full time carer Jane permanently by his side, Stephen continues his awe-inspiring work surrounding black holes and the genesis of the universe. 'The Theory Of Everything' doesn't so much focus on his trailblazing work but instead focuses on the relationship that saw Hawking through one of the most harrowing scenarios any human has ever had to face.

 

Adapted from Janes own memoirs 'Traveling To Infinity', 'The Theory Of Everything' certainly pulls no punches when it comes to giving us heartbreaking scenes of torment and grief. Through both the screenplay by Anthony McCarten to Marshs up-close-and-personal directorial style, we are privy to every moment that Hawking endures pain or anguish. Of course, a lot of restraint is shown in both so the horrific moments don't become too unbearable to watch but these scenes still pack a heavy emotional punch to the gut. Not to mention Johann Johannsons' empathetic and beautiful underscoring which tells us exactly how to feel at every single moment. In any other persons hands, 'The Theory Of Everything' could become too mournful and too melodramatic for it's own good - after all how are you supposed to make a movie about the silencing of one of history's most brilliant minds without making it overly sentimental? Thankfully Marsh and McCarten have an ace up their sleeve; an ace by the name of Eddie Redmayne.

Usually at awards time, it is quite easy to predict which films/actors/directors will eventually win the biggest prizes and this year certainly has it's fair share of safe bets. However, the Best Actor category may not be so easy to second guess. On one side, we have the critics favorite Michael Keaton for his hilarious career rejuvenating role in 'Birdman' - on the other we have Redmayne. Now, my head says that Keaton will win almost definitely win the Academy Award come February 22nd but my heart says that Eddie Redmayne deserves it more.

Not since Daniel Day Lewis in 'My Left Foot' has an actor portrayed disability in such an honest and truthful way. In fact, at points I forgot that I was watching an actor portray Stephen Hawking rather than watching the great scientist himself - his performance is that good. Even before his character begins to show the signs of motor neuron disease, Redmayne instantly becomes an extremely likable and immensely watchable screen talent that only gets stronger as the film becomes more and more bleak. Working closely with Hawking himself to perfectly mimic the great mans mannerisms and personality, both before and after his illness took hold, Redmayne puts in an incredible amount of effort and time to bring a true and honest portrayal to the screen and his efforts make for one of the best performances of the past decade or so.  Previously known for his brilliant but underrated work in 'My Week With Marilyn' and 'Les Miserables', Eddie Redmayne is an actor who has never quite got the recognition he deserves. Finally a movie has come along which will make him a household name alongside such well-respected British actors as Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and James McAvoy.

While Redmayne may be getting all the awards attention, I am very glad to see that fellow cast member Felicity Jones is also being recognised for her marvelously believable portrayal of Hawkings devoted wife Jane. Usually in movies about disability, the side characters become somewhat removed from the narrative - displaced by a focus the main protagonists illness/condition. However, through Jones' touching performance, Jane becomes as important a character as Hawking himself and manages to hold her own even when joined on screen by her imitable co-star. Just like Redmayne, Felicity Jones is an actress who may not be so well known now but believe me, after the awards season this year, she most certainly will be.

Nominated for 5 Oscars as well as a generous collection of other awards, 'The Theory Of Everything' has been both a critical and commercial smash, almost quintupling it's generous $18m budget and earning an amazing 85% on Rotten Tomatoes - proof that not only is the British film industry is as alive as it has ever been but, more importantly, it shows that the average movie-going public doesn't always resort to knuckle-headed, bottom of the barrel blockbusters when going to the cinema. Some more hardened critics have dismissed 'The Theory Of Everything' as a typical run of the mill biopic that does nothing different or revolutionary with the biographical drama sub-genre. My answer to that would be that the story of Stephen Hawking is extraordinary enough - the movie itself doesn't need to be. The direction is wonderful, the performances are outstanding and the screenplay rings of nothing but the truth making for not only one of the best movies I am likely to see this year but one of the best movies I have ever seen.